Nature map to inspire residents to enjoy outdoors

The map will show how Bristol's parks, cycleways and waterways connect

A social enterprise is fundraising to develop a city's first urban nature map with the aim of helping residents connect with the nature on their doorstep.

Urban Good CIC has developed the map with input from people living in Bristol and hopes to launch it in January.

The map will show how Bristol's parks, green spaces, cycleways and waterways connect and what each of them have to offer.

"The maps are really about trying to reframe what a city looks like for its residents and visitors," said Charlie Peel, founder of Urban Good CIC.

The map works by colouring in open areas to make them easily identifiable and to demonstrate how they are connected.

"There's a whole lattice of different types of nature in the city and I think what we're trying to do is create a re-communication tool that helps people realise that nearby nature is very easy and accessible to get to," said Mr Peel.

Urban Good CIC has also developed similar maps for six other cities.

The group hopes to run workshops to inspire people to get outdoors more

The maps will be printed nearby in Frome and can be folded easily or pinned up inside people's homes.

"What we love about the printed maps, I know some people think are quite antiquated now, is that anyone can pull out a phone and now most people can probably map read better than they probably ever could because of that - but you never get to see the connections and see how this wider landscape all connects into the city," said Mr Peel.

The organisation is currently fundraising to put on workshops in Bristol with the aim of inspiring people to get outside.

"There are lots of youth group doing that work and there are city farms and all sorts of different bio-diversity network groups - we want to get them in a room and find out what are the best stories that we can share about Bristol and tell residents to go out and fine for themselves," said Mr Peel.